Volunteer FAQs
Who can participate? Anyone can participate in our volunteer events, regardless of age or experience. However Swim Smart volunteers often need to wade into the river to gather samples, so we recommend adult supervision for volunteers under the age of 18.
How long does a river cleanup event last? Our river cleanups are also usually 2 hours or less, depending on the size of the cleanup area, the number of volunteers who attend, and the cleanup method used – cleanups using boats may take longer than cleanups on foot.
What is the time commitment for a Swim Smart volunteer? Volunteers are asked to commit to an entire season of monitoring, which runs from June through August. WRP staff distribute equipment and provide training for new volunteers in late-May. Testing takes about 10 minutes at your river station on every other Wednesday morning, before 9am. The testing involves 3 distinct steps: recording general observations about the weather and appearance of the water, taking conductivity and turbidity readings, and collecting a water sample that will be tested for bacteria. Additional time is required to drop the water sample at the nearest collection point.
What is the time commitment for a Swim Smart volunteer? Volunteers are asked to commit to an entire season of monitoring, which runs from June through August. WRP staff distribute equipment and provide training for new volunteers in late-May. Testing takes about 10 minutes at your river station on every other Wednesday morning, before 9am. The testing involves 3 distinct steps: recording general observations about the weather and appearance of the water, taking conductivity and turbidity readings, and collecting a water sample that will be tested for bacteria. Additional time is required to drop the water sample at the nearest collection point.
What is the time commitment for a White River Water Trail steward? Volunteers are asked to commit to an entire season of stewardship, which runs from June through August with optional activities in May and September. WRP staff distribute supplies and provide training for new volunteers in late-May. Stewardship activities take about 10-20 minutes at your site each month. Additional time may be required to address and/or report a hazard and to collect and/or report trash.
What should I wear? At all of our volunteer events, we recommend wearing clothing you don’t mind getting dirty and shoes you don’t mind getting wet. A hat and raincoat often come in handy – we cleanup the river rain or shine! While most Swim Smart volunteers wear shorts and sandals, some may choose to wear fishing waders and boots, if their site requires them to wade into the river.
Should I bring my own tools? The WRP provides all necessary tools for river cleanups (gloves and trash bags), Swim Smart monitoring (bottles/labels, conductivity, turbidity tube), and White River Water Trail stewardship (gloves, trash bags). You are welcome to bring your own tools – make sure to label them beforehand.
What else should I bring? We recommend bringing water to drink and a camera to capture the action.
Where does the water quality testing equipment come from? We reuse our conductivity pens and turbidity tubes every year. For processing E. coli samples in the office, we purchase Colilert and QuantiTrays from Idexx every year.
What provisions are made for safety? The WRP gives a safety talk at each event, and makes a first aid kit available. New Swim Smart volunteers receive training in both testing procedures and water safety.
Current volunteer opportunities
Stay posted about current volunteer opportunities by visiting our News and Events webpage or our Facebook page. Or subscribe to our e-newsletter list-serve (see right-hand side of this page) to receive email notifications about upcoming events.
Volunteer FAQs
Who can participate? Anyone can participate in our volunteer events, regardless of age or experience. However Swim Smart volunteers often need to wade into the river to gather samples, so we recommend adult supervision for volunteers under the age of 18.
How long does a river cleanup event last? Our river cleanups are also usually 2 hours or less, depending on the size of the cleanup area, the number of volunteers who attend, and the cleanup method used – cleanups using boats may take longer than cleanups on foot.
What is the time commitment for a Swim Smart volunteer? Volunteers are asked to commit to an entire season of monitoring, which runs from June through August. WRP staff distribute equipment and provide training for new volunteers in late-May. Testing takes about 10 minutes at your river station on every other Wednesday morning, before 9am. The testing involves 3 distinct steps: recording general observations about the weather and appearance of the water, taking conductivity and turbidity readings, and collecting a water sample that will be tested for bacteria. Additional time is required to drop the water sample at the nearest collection point.
What is the time commitment for a Swim Smart volunteer? Volunteers are asked to commit to an entire season of monitoring, which runs from June through August. WRP staff distribute equipment and provide training for new volunteers in late-May. Testing takes about 10 minutes at your river station on every other Wednesday morning, before 9am. The testing involves 3 distinct steps: recording general observations about the weather and appearance of the water, taking conductivity and turbidity readings, and collecting a water sample that will be tested for bacteria. Additional time is required to drop the water sample at the nearest collection point.
What is the time commitment for a White River Water Trail steward? Volunteers are asked to commit to an entire season of stewardship, which runs from June through August with optional activities in May and September. WRP staff distribute supplies and provide training for new volunteers in late-May. Stewardship activities take about 10-20 minutes at your site each month. Additional time may be required to address and/or report a hazard and to collect and/or report trash.
What should I wear? At all of our volunteer events, we recommend wearing clothing you don’t mind getting dirty and shoes you don’t mind getting wet. A hat and raincoat often come in handy – we cleanup the river rain or shine! While most Swim Smart volunteers wear shorts and sandals, some may choose to wear fishing waders and boots, if their site requires them to wade into the river.
Should I bring my own tools? The WRP provides all necessary tools for river cleanups (gloves and trash bags), Swim Smart monitoring (bottles/labels, conductivity, turbidity tube), and White River Water Trail stewardship (gloves, trash bags). You are welcome to bring your own tools – make sure to label them beforehand.
What else should I bring? We recommend bringing water to drink and a camera to capture the action.
Where does the water quality testing equipment come from? We reuse our conductivity pens and turbidity tubes every year. For processing E. coli samples in the office, we purchase Colilert and QuantiTrays from Idexx every year.
What provisions are made for safety? The WRP gives a safety talk at each event, and makes a first aid kit available. New Swim Smart volunteers receive training in both testing procedures and water safety.
Current volunteer opportunities
Stay posted about current volunteer opportunities by visiting our News and Events webpage or our Facebook page. Or subscribe to our e-newsletter list-serve (see right-hand side of this page) to receive email notifications about upcoming events.